Novel monomers in radical ring-opening polymerisation for biodegradable and pH responsive nanoparticles

Abstract

Responsive and biodegradable nanoparticles are essential for functional drug delivery systems. We herein report the first pH sensitive polyester from radical ring-opening polymerisation of novel amine-bearing cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs). The CKAs were synthesised via an intermediate carbonate and the resulting polyesters showed a pK_a around pH 6. Together with an initial application in biodegradable nanoparticles, they open the pathway for a new generation of functional polyesters.